Bleeding Heartland
An independent website about Iowa politics
 Bleeding Heartland

Recognizing Bleeding Heartland's talented 2022 guest authors

Bleeding Heartland set new records for guest contributions in 2022, both in terms of total authors (nearly 150) and posts submitted (more than 350). For the first time since I became the website’s primary author in 2008, other people wrote more of the published material than I did. Some of their essays were among the most-read on the site this year. The steady stream of submissions helped me post fresh content almost every day, even during the hardest weeks after I broke my ankle.

Guest authors provided some exclusive reporting and in-depth analysis of topics ranging from unemployment benefits to the energy grid to Supreme Court rulings to maternal health data.

They shared their research about Iowa history, the supposed economic benefits and safety hazards of CO2 pipelines, and wildflowers. They shared insights about polling trends, teacher pay, and bygone traditions of news reporting.

They shared their personal experiences with abortion, systemic racism, student loan debt, and bullying directed at public school educators.

They shared advice for Iowa Democrats: how to talk about policies, how to rebuild a strong organization, how to handle the Iowa caucuses, and how to acknowledge accelerating hate toward LGBTQ people.

They shared success stories: rebuffing an attempted book ban and winning a high-profile legislative race.

They explained why some bills proposed in the Iowa legislature would benefit communities, and others would harm schools or young farmers.

Many authors endorsed Democrats seeking local, state, or federal offices. Others criticized Democratic elected officials for policies they advocated or failed to stand for, or challenged activists to “become self-aware of the prejudice and racism we perpetuate through our own systems of leadership.” Some Democratic candidates introduced themselves or made the case for certain policies.

I’m proud to provide a platform for a wide range of progressive or Democratic viewpoints and am grateful to all who wrote for this website. The majority of pieces linked below were published only at Bleeding Heartland.

Please get in touch if you would like to write about any topic of local, statewide, or national importance during 2023. If you do not already have a user account on the site, I can set one up for you and explain the process. There is no standard format or word limit. I copy-edit for clarity but let authors speak their own truth.

Although most authors write under their real names, I allow pseudonyms under some circumstances. I ask authors to disclose potential conflicts of interest, such as being a paid staffer, consultant, or lobbyist promoting any candidate or policy they discuss here.

A final note before I share all of this year’s guest posts: the Bleeding Heartland community lost a valued member this month when Richard Lindgren passed away, far too soon. A forthcoming piece will give Rick’s life and work the attention it deserves.

Daniel G. Clark was Bleeding Heartland’s most prolific guest author in 2022, thanks to a series of essays he published first in the Muscatine Journal. He started writing about the legendary 19th century civil rights leader Alexander Clark (no relation) in February. He kept going long after Black History Month ended, branching into many subjects related to Clark’s life or race relations during the middle of the 19th century.

Here are Dan’s 34 posts, in chronological order:

Herb Strentz wrote the following 23 posts:

Bruce Lear wrote the following 20 posts:

Randy Evans distributes a weekly column to several Iowa newspapers, and Bleeding Heartland published sixteen of those essays:

Kurt Meyer allowed me to publish columns he wrote for the Nora Springs Register. Here are his fifteen contributions for 2022:

Steve Corbin distributes columns regularly to various news organizations, and Bleeding Heartland published fourteen of those in 2022:

Glenn Hurst wrote eight posts:

Ira Lacher also wrote eight posts:

Jim Chrisinger wrote seven commentaries:

Dan Guild wrote six posts about the elections:

Gerald Ott wrote six commentaries:

The following authors each contributed five commentaries. Lora Conrad:

Sondra Feldstein:

John Hale and Terri Hale:

Randy Richardson:

Seven authors each wrote four posts during the year. Joe Bolkcom:

Sue Dinsdale:

Julie Gammack:

Rick Morain‘s commentaries also appeared in the Jefferson Herald:

Carl Olsen:

Emma Schmit:

Matt Sinovic:

Eight authors each contributed three posts. Rachel Bruns:

Katie Byerly:

Doris Kelley:

Bruce Morrison:

C.J. Petersen:

Dan Piller:

William R. Staplin:

Tom Walton:

Twenty authors each contributed two posts to the site.

“Bill from White Plains”:

Charles Bruner:

Nick Covington:

Paul Deaton:

John Deeth:

Wayne Ford:

Art Hackett:

Matt Hardin:

Jack Hatch:

Charlie Hodges:

Henry Jay Karp:

Richard Lindgren:

Brian McClain:

RJ Miller:

Diane Porter:

Mary Jo Riesberg:

Anne Schechinger:

Linda Schreiber:

Silvia Secchi:

“Strong Island Hawk”:

At least 97 authors contributed to one Bleeding Heartland post during the year (some of these 88 posts were group efforts):

Sheri Albrecht:

Environmental scorecard for the Iowans in Congress

Shaimaa Aly:

Shaimaa Aly: Committed to addressing the social dimensions of health care

Shawna Anderson:

Contraception is also health care

Michael Andreski:

Introducing Michael Andreski, Democrat running in Iowa House District 31

John Aspray:

Backing carbon pipelines cost Senate President Jake Chapman his seat

Rob Barron:

Why I support Gabe De La Cerda for Iowa House district 36

Gina Battani:

I thought better of you than this, Eddie Mauro

Richard Bender:

Choosing the Democrat who can beat Chuck Grassley

Dominica Borg:

Fairfield, Iowa declares second annual Pride Month

Brian Bruening:

Rural county chair on some changes Iowa Democrats need

Douglas Burns:

Mr. Knott empowered generations to lead self-examining lives

Jodie Butler:

GOP lawmakers lack respect for Iowans

Jamie Burch Elliott:

Why I’m supporting Grace Van Cleave for Iowa Senate district 17

Bonnie Campbell:

Franken will advocate for women’s rights, human rights in the Senate

Brian Campbell:

Calling on MidAmerican to partner with DSM on climate, clean energy

Jaylen Cavil and Alejandro Murguia-Ortiz:

Cindy Axne should withdraw her racist police bill

Matt Chapman:

Mobile home bill less than nothing for homeowners

Dan Chibnall, Annabelle Lolinco, and Riley Troyer:

Where do Iowa’s candidates stand on science policy? We asked them

“dbmarin”:

Good news, bad news

Des Moines Black Liberation Movement and Des Moines People’s Town Hall

George Flagg Parkway must be renamed

Gary Dickey:

Austin Baeth for Iowa House district 36

Andrew Dunn:

Andrew Dunn: The kind of legislator we need in 2022

Zach Elias:

The first time I felt Iowa wasn’t home (tenth most-viewed post of the year)

David Farwell:

For PTSD Awareness Month, veterans need allies and advocates

Jan Flora:

On COVID-19, governor is a day late and a dollar short—again

Bethany Gates:

Midwifery licensure would improve maternal health, infant outcomes

Marie Gleason:

How one Iowa school district rebuffed attempted book ban

Ellen Goodmann Miller:

Iowa Democrats: It’s time to challenge ourselves

Melissa Halverson:

Kacey Davis for Broadlawns trustee

Janice Harbaugh:

My heart is in Ukraine

Natalie Harwood:

Des Moines leaders abandoned houseless residents

Karen Heidman:

Constitutional sheriffs

Sonya Heitshusen:

Unity, civility, courage, and common sense: Why I’m running for Iowa House district 28

Jonna Higgins-Freese:

Democracy Diary: What should we DO?

Lindsay James:

Iowans want leaders to focus on people, not politics

Andy Johnson:

A cleaner grid is a more reliable, resilient grid

Katie Jones:

Turn the ballot over and vote no on Public Measure 1

Keegan Jones:

The myth of school choice

Anesa Kajtazovic:

We have proven leadership in Admiral Franken

Bob Krause:

Mike Franken has the right experience, perspective

Bradley Knott:

Introducing the Campaign for Sensible Cannabis Laws

Paul Laning:

Iowa wildflower Wednesday: Hoar frost

James Larew:

Iowa lawmakers should reject bad bill on appraisals

Dave Leshtz:

Rally in support of Ingredion workers on strike

David Mansheim:

When race came to dinner

Sharon Mayer:

Inflation Reduction Act puts important health care within reach

Mike McCarthy, Kay Pence, Jan Corderman, and Ken Sagar:

Governor’s vision for Iowa is out of focus

David McCartney:

Honoring all victims of war, including those who resisted

Matt McCoy:

Don’t let Polk County politicians pick their voters

Andy McGuire:

Shannon Henson has the skills and character to lead

Ryan Melton:

A call for solidarity with Iowa’s LGBTQ+ community

Zach Meunier:

Iowa Democrats can win again—and soon

Dave Miglin and Emily Webb:

For Broadlawns board: Kacey Davis, Shaimaa Aly, Marc Ward

John Morrissey:

Exclusive: Iowa trooper crash investigation details remain secret

Julie Ann Neely:

It’s time to worry about democracy

Linda Nelson:

Pott Co residents deserve a say in spending pandemic funds

Tim Nelson:

Vote Shaimaa Aly in a critical down-ballot race

Jackie Norris:

Iowa Democrats, we have an opportunity!

John Norwood:

Iowa’s water quality and soil loss crisis

Chris Peterson:

The system is rigged for corporate farms over family farmers

Sandy Peterson:

Three reasons to replace Kim Reynolds (eleventh most-viewed post of the year)

Susie Petra:

Glenn Hurst is the change we need

Carolyn Raffensperger and Sheri Deal-Tyne:

Corporations exploit CO2 pipeline regulatory gaps in tax credit gold rush

Helen Redding:

Predatory lending perpetuates racial wealth gap

Marcia Rogers:

Surprising myself, I favor keeping the Iowa caucuses

Addison Roland:

My body, my choice

Brittany Ruland:

A campaign manager’s takeaways from Sarah Trone Garriott’s victory

Cynthia Sebian-Lander:

Faith leaders support Deidre DeJear for governor

Chelsea Sims:

GOP bills attack Iowa school libraries, librarians

Shelley Skuster:

Why we must elect people who understand the literacy crisis

Julie Russell-Steuart:

Iowa Democratic Party’s Disability Caucus endorses Dr. Glenn Hurst

Bruce Schmiedlin:

Bruce Schmiedlin for Broadlawns Hospital Trustee

Chris Schwartz:

Much to celebrate this Labor Day, but more work to do

Leland Searles:

Iowa wildflower Wednesday: Sedges

Jeff Shudak:

Workers create wealth. It’s time they get a proper share

Emily Silliman:

Thoughts on what’s happening in Ukraine and political implications

Kenny Slocum:

Iowa wildflower Wednesday: Motor Mill’s micro-beauty

Larry Stone:

Book review: The Land Remains

Joe Stutler:

What is this day about?

Dave Swenson:

Bad governance, bad policy: Governor’s assault on the unemployed

Ken Tilp:

50 years ago, a victory for women’s bodily autonomy in West Des Moines

Penny Vossler:

The Republican Party of Iowa owes me an apology (among 30 most-viewed posts of the year)

Mary Weaver:

We must not go back

Janice Weiner:

Child care is the foundation—and decent wages are foundational

Jessica Wiskus:

Now is the time to act against carbon pipelines

Jenn Wolff:

Medicaid bills deserve a hearing

ReShonda Young:

The impossible race

Adam Zabner:

Why I want to represent Iowa City in the Iowa House

Tags: Blogging

About the Author(s)

Laura Belin

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